1998 Mazda B-Series Truck problems

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE A 98 MAZDA WHICH IS MADE BY FORD....VIN STICKER ON THE DOOR STATES SUCH. SAME AS 98 RANGER. BOTH OF MY REAR LEAF SPRING SHACKLES HAVE RUSTED OFF SO SEVERELY THAT THEY WENT THROUGH THE BED OF THE TRUCK. THE REAR END OF THE FRAME IS ROTTING OFF AND THE SPARE TIRE SUPPORT AND TIRE AS WELL. THE TRUCK ONLY HAS 66,000 MILES AND RUNS GREAT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS MY REAR BUMPER COULD FALL OFF, THE SPARE TIRE COULD FALL OFF, AND THE FRAME ALREADY BROKE LETTING THE LEAF SPRINGS GO RIGHT THROUGH THE BED. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT FORD RANGERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND BEING A DANGER TO NOT ONLY THE PERSON DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND ITS OCCUPANTS, BUT ALSO THE FOLLOWING CARS WHEN THE BUMPER FALLS OFF AND SPARE TIRE TOO.

NHTSA complaint #11110089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

HAVE ERRATIC SPEED SPEEDOMETER GOES UP AND DOWN AS I'M DRIVING CAN FILL POWER OF VEHICLE GOES UP AND DOWN. ALSO GAS MILEAGE HAS WENT FROM 20 MILES TO THE GALLON TOO 10 MPG. REPLACED THE SPEED SENSOR BUT DIDN'T HELP

NHTSA complaint #11023699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA B4000. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V062002 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND CONTACTED THE DEALER TO SECURE AN APPOINTMENT FOR RECALL REPAIRS HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE RECALL REPAIRS HAD NOT YET BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT WHEN OR IF THE PARTS HAD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER SERVICED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MILEAGE WAS 181,823. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10478191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

I HAVE HAD A HEAD GASKET REPLACE ON THIS 1998 MAZDA B4000 WITHIN 61,000 MILES. THE FIRST HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT WAS 1-21-2008. NOW THE SAME THING SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING AT 78,100 MILES ARE THERE ANY ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL? I ONLY DRIVE THE TRUCK TO WORK AND BACK WHICH IS ONLY ABOUT 5 MILES FROM MY HOME. ALSO THE FRONT END SUSPENSION MAKES A LOUD SQUEAKING/POPPING NOISE WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL OR HIT A ROUGH PLACE IN PAVEMENT. THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION" BUZZER KEEPS DINGING AFTER YOU TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION.

NHTSA complaint #10452845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE HAD A HEAD GASKET REPLACE ON THIS 1998 MAZDA B4000 WITHIN 61,000 MILES. THE FIRST HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT WAS 1-21-2008. NOW THE SAME THING SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING AT 78,100 MILES ARE THERE ANY ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL? I ONLY DRIVE THE TRUCK TO WORK AND BACK WHICH IS ONLY ABOUT 5 MILES FROM MY HOME. ALSO THE FRONT END SUSPENSION MAKES A LOUD SQUEAKING/POPPING NOISE WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL OR HIT A ROUGH PLACE IN PAVEMENT. THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION" BUZZER KEEPS DINGING AFTER YOU TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION.

NHTSA complaint #10452845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE HAD A HEAD GASKET REPLACE ON THIS 1998 MAZDA B4000 WITHIN 61,000 MILES. THE FIRST HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT WAS 1-21-2008. NOW THE SAME THING SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING AT 78,100 MILES ARE THERE ANY ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL? I ONLY DRIVE THE TRUCK TO WORK AND BACK WHICH IS ONLY ABOUT 5 MILES FROM MY HOME. ALSO THE FRONT END SUSPENSION MAKES A LOUD SQUEAKING/POPPING NOISE WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL OR HIT A ROUGH PLACE IN PAVEMENT. THE "KEY IN THE IGNITION" BUZZER KEEPS DINGING AFTER YOU TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION.

NHTSA complaint #10452845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLES THROTTLE STICK OPEN WHEN RELEASED. CANNOT SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. ONLY WAY TO SLOW DOWN IS TO TURN IGNITION OFF. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY ARE AWARE AND HAD TSB ON THIS DURING WARRANTY. TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM. TOOK IT IN TWICE SINCE FOR SAME PROBLEM AND THEY SAY I NOW NEED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. WHEN THIS SITUATION HAPPENS, THERE IS NO CONTROL OF THE SPEED OF THIS VEHICLE.. EVEN STEPPING ON BRAKES DOESN'T HELP. I HAVE REPORTED THIS 3 TIMES TO YOU PRIOR, BUT WITH THE TOYOTA PROBLEMS, I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE MORE INTERESTED IN THIS NOW. I AM ALSO REPORTING THIS PROBLEM TO THE LOCAL NEWS MEDIA, ALONG WITH A COPY OF THIS REPORT.

NHTSA complaint #10313680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A QUALITY ISSUES ABOUT GOODYEAR'S TRACKER 2 TIRES. IN EARLY SUMMER OF 2007, I HAD 4 TIRES OF THIS BRAND INSTALLED AT WAL-MART. THESE TIRES WERE SOLD AT WAL-MART WITH CLAIMS FOR 50,000 MILES WARRANTY. BY NOW, IT HAS BEEN NOT MORE THAN 3 YEARS AND GOT CLOSE TO 40,000 MILES. ON LAST SATURDAY MORNING WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON SOUTH BOUND I-77, ABOUT 1 MILE A WAY FROM EXIT 58 IN VIRGINIA, THE TIRE ON THE BEAR DRIVER'S SIDE BLEW UP. I HAD TO CALL POLICE FOR ROAD ASSISTANCE IN ORDER TO INSTALL THE SPARE TIRE. I WAS LUCKY THAT I JUST ROTATED THE TIRES ON FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE THIS TRIP. OTHERWISE, THIS TIRE WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN FRONT. WHEN I TOOK MY PICKUP TO WAL-MART TO HAVE THE TIRES CHECKED, THEY THEN FOUND SEVERE BUBBLES AND CRACKS ON OTHER 2 TIRES, RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AND REAR. ONLY THE TIRE ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE STILL APPEARED TO BE LESS DEFECTIVE, AND BUBBLES WERE FOUND ALTHOUGH NOT AS APPARENT. WE USED TO HAVE TIRES THAT CAN RUN FOR 70,000 OR EVEN 80,000 WILES WITH A 50,000 MILE WARRANTY. NOW, THE QUALITY ISSUES SEEM INVADE INTO EVERY CORNER OF OUR DAILY LIFE. WITH THE INCIDENT I JUST HAD, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT I LEARNED A LOT. I JUST HOPE THE GOVERNMENT TIGHTENS UP OUR RULES FOR THESE COMPANIES THAT PROFIT AT THE EXPENSE OF CUSTOMERS.

NHTSA complaint #10312623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THROTTLE STICKS WIDE OPEN ON MY 1998 MAZDA B2500 TRUCK. ONLY RECOURSE IS TO TURN ENGINE OFF TO SLOW DOWN. HAVE HAD IT IN TO MAZDA SHOP TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. FIRST TIME UNDER WARRANTY, COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM SECOND TIME, MAZDA SAYS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD A TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT TO BE A FATAL STATISTIC, BECAUSE OF YET ANOTHER VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS FAILURE TO ACT.

NHTSA complaint #10308574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

INTERIOR LIGHT STAY ON AFTER IT RAINS OR MOISTURE IS IN THE AIR. HAD DOOR SWITCH REPLACED, WORK FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND THEN RECUR AGAIN. THE INTERIOR LIGHT CAN ONLY BE SHUT OFF BY TAKING OUT THE FUSE. THE INTERIOR LIGHT GET SHOOT THAT IT CAN BURN YOUR HAND IF TOUCHED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A ONGOING PROBLEM WITH1998 MAZDA B2500 TRK. AND FOR RANDERS. IT COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A INTERIOR FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10261998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

I OWN A 1998 MAZDA PICKUP, 2500 MODEL. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FLORIDA VEHICLE. I DID A FRONT END SUSPENSION CHECK, AND FOUND ALL 4 BALL JOINTS WITH DEEP RUST, NO RUBBER SEALS LEFT OTHER THAN BRITTLE AND CRACKED REMAINS OF THE RUBBER BOOT AROUND THE JOINTS. THE RUBBER BUSHINGS ON THE FRONT STABILIZER ASSEMBLY WERE ALSO EITHER TOTALLY DISINTEGRATED OR MISSING. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE CONDITION HAD BEEN PRESENT FOR SOME TIME, THE BALL JOINTS WERE BADLY WORN, AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WOULD HAVE OCCURRED WITHIN MONTHS. THIS VEHICLE WAS BUILT BY FORD. I BELIEVE THE QUALITY AND DURABILITY OF THE RUBBER BOOTS PROTECTING THESE VITAL PARTS WAS DEFECTIVE. ACCORDING TO SOME OTHERS I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH, ROTTED BOOTS ARE NOT UNCOMMON. IN THE PAST I HAVE KEPT VEHICLES FOR OVER 20 YEARS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM WITH BALL JOINT AND STEERING KNUCKLES GREASE COVERS. REQUEST THIS BE INVESTIGATED AS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. THANKS IN VIEW OF THE POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS, THIS NEEDS FOLLOWUP.

NHTSA complaint #10245218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

I OWN A 1998 MAZDA PICKUP, 2500 MODEL. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FLORIDA VEHICLE. I DID A FRONT END SUSPENSION CHECK, AND FOUND ALL 4 BALL JOINTS WITH DEEP RUST, NO RUBBER SEALS LEFT OTHER THAN BRITTLE AND CRACKED REMAINS OF THE RUBBER BOOT AROUND THE JOINTS. THE RUBBER BUSHINGS ON THE FRONT STABILIZER ASSEMBLY WERE ALSO EITHER TOTALLY DISINTEGRATED OR MISSING. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE CONDITION HAD BEEN PRESENT FOR SOME TIME, THE BALL JOINTS WERE BADLY WORN, AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WOULD HAVE OCCURRED WITHIN MONTHS. THIS VEHICLE WAS BUILT BY FORD. I BELIEVE THE QUALITY AND DURABILITY OF THE RUBBER BOOTS PROTECTING THESE VITAL PARTS WAS DEFECTIVE. ACCORDING TO SOME OTHERS I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH, ROTTED BOOTS ARE NOT UNCOMMON. IN THE PAST I HAVE KEPT VEHICLES FOR OVER 20 YEARS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM WITH BALL JOINT AND STEERING KNUCKLES GREASE COVERS. REQUEST THIS BE INVESTIGATED AS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. THANKS IN VIEW OF THE POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENTS, THIS NEEDS FOLLOWUP.

NHTSA complaint #10245218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MAZDA RECALL LETTER SAID TO TAKE VEHICLE TO CLOSEST DEALER FOR FREE REPAIR WORK STATING DEALERS HAD PARTS TO MAKE MY TRUCK SAFE. DROPPED TRUCK OFF FOR REPAIR ON OCT 9, 2008 AT AROUND 4:00PM. WAS TOLD I COULD PICK UP MY TRUCK ON THE 10TH AT AROUND THE SAME TIME. TOOK THE NEXT DAY OFF FROM WORK TO BE AVAILABLE WHEN THE DEALER CALLED TO PICK UP MY TRUCK. AT AROUND 3:00PM ON THE 10TH, I RECEIVED A MESSAGE TO CALL THE DEALER. SINCE I WAS TOLD TO BE AT THE DEALERS AT 4:00PM, I WASN'T NEAR MY PHONE WHEN THE MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED. AT AROUND 4:15PM I ARRIVED TO PICK UP MY TRUCK. I WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND COULD I MAKE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT. I TOLD THE SERVICE REP THE RECALL LETTER SAID THE DEALERS HAD THE PARTS TO COMPLETE THE JOB. HE THEN SAID WHEN THE TRUCK WAS BROUGHT INTO THE SHOP, THERE WERE NO PARTS TO DO THE JOB. I SAID " YOU'VE HAD MY TRUCK FOR 24 HOURS AND IT'S STILL NOT REPAIRED." I'M VERY UNHAPPY WITH MAZDA'S HANDLING OF THIS SITUATION AND HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10245129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THROTTLE STICKS AT BETWEEN 2500-3500 RPM. ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO TURN ENGINE OFF AND RESTART.

NHTSA complaint #10233012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA B2500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, THE CONTACT MUST PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN TURN OFF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE OVERPOWERS THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE STOPPED BY APPLYING THE BRAKES. IN ADDITION, THE THROTTLE STICKS AND REMAINS OPEN. THE BRAKE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP THREE TIMES REGARDING THE FAILURE, BUT NO FAILURE WAS IDENTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA complaint #10233085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MAZDA B2500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE, THE CONTACT MUST PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN TURN OFF THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE OVERPOWERS THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE STOPPED BY APPLYING THE BRAKES. IN ADDITION, THE THROTTLE STICKS AND REMAINS OPEN. THE BRAKE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP THREE TIMES REGARDING THE FAILURE, BUT NO FAILURE WAS IDENTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA complaint #10233085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.